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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What is a Forgery?

A forgery is the process of fraudulently making a false document or altering a real one to look and be used as a genuine by someone with the intent to deceive (Garner, 1999).

What is a Document?

A document is any material that carries a communication, explicit or implied (Huber and Headrick, 1999).

What is a Forensic Document Examiner?

A Forensic Document Examiner (FDE), also referred to as a Handwriting Expert, is an individual who discovers and demonstrates the facts concerning documents and related material.  The bulk of the examiner's caseload rests upon answering questions regarding authorship, authenticity, alterations, additions and erasures. However, a document examiner may be called upon to determine the significance of inks, paper, writing instruments, business machines, and other features of documents which includes the printing process. (The Forensic Science Foundation Inc).

Types of Document Examiners:

(1) Private Examiner
(2) Government Examiner
(3) Pseudo-Document Examiners (AKA: Graphologists) – Not Recommended for Document Examinations unless appropriate training in questioned documents has been achieved. 

What is a Graphologist?

A Graphologist, also referred to as a Handwriting Analyst, is an individual who determines personality traits from handwriting.  This skill is used to establish a psychological profile based on the formation of the letters and position of the writing on the page.  Most graphologist are not trained in forensic document examination and thus are not qualified to perform this kind of work.

What if I only have a copy of the questioned document?

While original documents are always best and preferred, my lab has the capability to examine photocopied documents and on many occasions the issue is resolved through an examination of a photocopy.  It is important to note that the copying process frequently conceals some of the details in the writing and can disguise cut-and-paste jobs, simulation and tracing.  However, with the continued advancement in computer technology most copies are of a high enough quality to allow a thorough and proper examination.

Can I fax writing samples to you?

YES.  Technology has changed and the advancements we have made allow fax copies to be examined accurately.  The fax machines of today have finer adjustments and smaller pixels which results in a higher quality print.

Why is handwriting identifiable?

Years of scientific research has resulted in two accepted principles (1) writing is habitual and thus no two people write exactly the same and (2) there is natural variation in everyone’s handwriting. Based on this a competent document examiner can take a writing sample and put it through a series of scientific examinations which ultamately results in a very accurate and defendable opinion.

 

COLLEAGUES AND WEBSITE SOURCES

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American College of Forensic Examiners
http://www.acfei.com

American Society of Testing and Materials
http://www.astm.org/

Andrew Christensen III, Athens, Georgia
http://www.worldmonitor.info
http://www.worldmonitor.info  
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
http://www.acfe.com

Collaborative Testing Services, INC.
http://www.collaborativetesting.com/

Forensic Expertise Profiling Laboratory
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/humanbio/forensic/fepl.html

Reed Hayes
http://www.reedwrite.com/
http://www.reedwrite.com/
Dawn Roberts
http://www. Handwritingexpert-documentexaminer.com
http://www.Handwritingexpert-documentexamine.com

 

 

 

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Call Roy Fenoff’s Lab of Document Examination

Tel: 307-399-5532
Fax: 970-204-6671

P.O. Box 163
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522-0163

E-mail:
handwiting_forensics@ yahoo.com